Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
After giving up a pair of early goals, the Soo Thunderbirds stormed back with eight unanswered tallies to crush the Timmins Rock 8-2 Saturday, December 14th in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at John Rhodes Community Centre.
A quick start for the visiting Rock saw Kaeden McArthur convert 73 seconds into the proceedings as he raced in on a breakaway and got enough of a deke to get it past Thunderbirds’ netminder Noah Metivier.
Timmins then made it 2-0 at 2:42 as they broke into the Sault Ste. Marie zone on an odd-man rush, which saw Ryan Armitage power his way down the left wing and lift an attempt high, blocker side.
The Thunderbirds got one back a few shifts later when Cooper Labelle steered in a crisp pass, through the crease from Deven Jones-McDonald, by the Rock’s Graham Gee.
Coming back to tie it in the final minute of the first, the Soo’s James Elliot jammed in a loose puck off a play generated by teammates Callum McAuley and Jonathan Sonedecker.
Building on their momentum, the Thunderbirds tacked on two more in the early stages of the middle stanza to take a 4-2 lead.
Sonedecker at 1:32 put the hosts in front by driving down the slot and firing a low attempt into the back of the net.
Adding another a couple of shifts later, Camden Cowan pumped one upstairs over the shoulder of Gee from the left side, on a sharp angle.
Continuing to press, the Soo clicked once more as McAuley made a nice move around a defender then fired a sharp pass across to Sonadecker, who quickly slammed it at 7:41.
The Thunderbirds’ onslaught continued when Jacob Smith converted on a power play when he whipped in his chance from between the circles, before he then cranked in a one-timer, at even strength, to blow it open.
Heading to the third, some crisp puck movement allowed Cowan to go in on back-up goaltender Sebastien Brassard, who began the session, and make a couple of crafty moves before eventually scoring and finishing off the result.
Win the one-sided outcome, the Thunderbirds improve to 13-14-1-1 on the year, while in defeat, the Rock drop to 20-10-0-0.
Soo Thunderbird coach Jamie Henderson told Saultsports that “I am really proud of how we responded tonight. We watched video Thursday and had a couple of good practices. I thought we had a good game plan tonight and followed it for the most part. They are always a top team in this league, so it’s a big win for our young group.”
Source: NOJHL
